[Insight Into Korea 3]

한국 민주주의와 정치변화를 예리한 시각으로 조망 분석한 책으로 독자들이 1987년 6월 이후 한국의 정치변화를 쉽게 이해할 수 있도록 쓰였다. 한국을 권위주의에서 민주주의로 변화시키는 촉진제가 된 노태우 정권하의 610민주항쟁부터 지금의 이명박 정부에 이르기까지 20년간의 정치권 판도가 어떻게 변해 왔는지를 추적하고 정치 선진화를 위한 향후 과제를 모색했다. 또한 지역주의, 이념갈등, 여성참여, 선거운동, 언론, 인터넷, 사법부, 시민사회 등 최근까지 한국 정치의 특징적인 양상에 대해 다양한 분석을 내놓았다.
한국의 민주화를 분석한 필진은 한국이 민주화와 급속한 경제성장이라는 두 마리 토끼를 잡았으나 정치발전은 이에 못 미치고 있음을 강조한다. 필진은 한국 민주주의가 커다란 성과를 이루었지만 또 한편 성숙한 자유민주주의에 도달하기 위해서는 아직 갈 길이 멀다고 지적한다.

Political Change in Korea is intended to help readers better understand the tremendous changes that have reshaped the Korean political landscape since June 1987. The civilian uprising that took place 21 years ago today set in motion a democratization process that has transformed Korea from authoritarianism to a liberal democracy. Korea’s transition to a vibrant democracy has been hailed by many foreign analysts. They regard Korea as a model, for it has achieved the twin goals of democratic development and rapid economic growth. But many analysts also note that Koreas political development lags behind its economic development. Some describe Korea as a country with a First World economy and Third World politics. A Korean business tycoon once rated Korea as second class in economic prowess, third class in government efficiency and fourth class in political performance.

Preface

Introduction
The forces that drove Korea toward democracy

Political Culture
․Toward a ‘balanced democracy’ in Korea
․Corrupt political culture erodes national competitiveness
․The constitutional soul of Korea’s democracy
․The ideological orientations of Korean voters
․Political apathy and electoral politics in Korea
․Women’s participation in politics

Politics
․The dynamics of party politics in Korea
․Reform of political parties
․Regionalism still holds sway
․A turn to the right and political realignment
․Long road ahead for progressives in Korea
․Problems with state subsidies for political parties
․Changes in party-government relations
․Blind loyalty dictates voters’ party support
․The ideological affiliations of political parties

Election Culture
․A plan of action to increase voter turnout
․Negative campaigns are fruitless
․Balancing transparency and reality in campaign funding
․Electoral systems in Korea
․Political participation in the internet era

President
․The strengths and weaknesses of government system in Korea
․Controversy over presidential term
․Creating balanced president-Assembly relations

National Assembly
․Changing patterns of lawmaking in Korea
․Long road to representation in the Assembly
․Causes and consequences of deadlock in the Assembly
․Addressing the limits of parliamentary democracy
․Abortive experiments in Korean corporatism

Other Institutions
․The press: A politician’s fair-weather friend
․The Constitutional Court: Political or legal?
․NGOs: A powerful force for political reform
․Interest groups and politics in 21st century
․How far has Korea advanced in local autonomy?

Conclusion
․Korea on path to mature liberal democracy